Method of securing a waterstop between concrete panels



Jan. 10, 1967 s. D. BRADLEY 3,297,800

METHOD OF SECURING A WATERSTOP BETWEEN CONCRETE PANELS Original Filed April 24, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

.57EPHEN D. BRHDME Y WLSON, SETTLEEi CRAIG flrmR/VEVS Jan. 10, 1967 s. D. BRADLEY 3,297,800

METHOD OF SECURING A WATERSTOP BETWEEN CONCRETE PANELS Original Filed April 24, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 4]; Z O 7V I 0 Q 0 15 Z 0 0 O o -.,o. o 0 0 0 r 1 a 'l8- fi O V 0 a 0 D. 0 0 0- o 0 0 o z O 0 o .0' t r 7 0 o O 65 0 0 P 3; OYIHO- ,"5- .0. /8 0 13 92/0 b 0 /////f i D 0 p2l 08 78070 a o -z 5:, i 4 a I 5. O 0 0 o i O o (O a '0 o- 250 o. o I

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.STEPHEN 0. 52411 E v BY WILSON SETTLE 8 CRAIG Arron/v5 Y5 United States Patent @flfice 3,297,800 METHOD OF SECURING A WATERSTOP BETWEEN CONCRETE PANELS Stephen D. Bradley, Grosse Pointe Farms, Mich., assignor to Macoid Industries, Inc., Detroit, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Original application Apr. 24, 1961, Ser. No. 104,914, now Patent No. 3,114,219, dated Dec. 17, 1963. Divided and this application Apr. 3, 1963, Ser. No. 270,415 2 Claims. (Cl. 26434) This application is a division of my copending earlier filed United States application Serial No. 104,914, filed April 24, 1961, now U.S. Patent No. 3,114,219.

The present invention relates to a method for making a waterstop joint for sealing adjacent, sequentially poured concrete panels by the utilization of conventional pouring forms.

Many different types of elastomeric waterstops have been proposed in the prior art, such waterstops being adaptable for utilization between adjacent cast concrete members, such as between the side walls and footings of a building, between consecutively poured concrete highway slabs or between adjacently poured swimming pool sections or the like. Such waterstops typically comprise an elastomeric membrane, preferably formed of synthetic vinyl compositions, having a central portion bridging the gap between the adjacent poured cast shapes and integral flanges embedded in the cast concrete members, respectively. The waterstop is positioned and retained by attachment to the forms as the forms are filled with the fluid concrete. The elastomeric character of the membrane accommodates limited shifting of the cast shapes, and the flanges are conventionally formed with longitudinally extending ribs or the like disposed angularly to the longitudinal plane of the membrane to resist displacement of the membrane flanges from the cast concrete. Additionally, such ribs serve to provide an elongated, tortuous flow path for water seeping between the membrane and the cast shape in an attempt to by-pass the membrane.

Illustrative of two different types of such waterstops are those disclosed in my earlier filed applications, Serial No. 24,315, filed April 25, 1960, now U.S. Patent No. 3,172,237 and Serial No. 71,752, filed November 25, 1960, now U.S. Patent No. 3,128,576, both of said applications being assigned to the assignee of the present invention.

In the utilization of waterstops of the type disclosed in the above-identified application, it has been necessary to use split forms and also to utilize waterstop-support brackets which are invested within the finally set concrete panels.

More specifically, the waterstops are supported so as to bridge the adjacent, sequentially poured panels,'and this requires leaving a space within a partition, usually formed of wood, defining that wall surface of the first panel which will abut the corresponding surface of the second poured panel. Thus, utilization of the strips has resulted in complicated pouring forms for the panels and the necessity of extraneous supporting means for securing the strips in the position in which they are desired in the final cast composite panel structure. Further, there is some danger of shifting of the strips, or even of the split forms, during the pouring of either of the panels, but particularly during the pouring of the first panel.

The present invention now provides a new and improved method of installing elastomeric Waterstops between adjacent sequentially poured panels and to an improved waterstop specifically adapted for utilization with the method. More specifically, the waterstop of the present invention is provided with a central section joining laterally projecting side flanges which are adapted to 3,297,800 Patented Jan. 10, 1967 be embedded in or invested in the cast panels with the central section lying intermediate the two panels. Carried by the flanges and depending therefrom are spaced shoulders which are utilized for retaining the waterstop in position during the separate pouring of the two panels.

In use, a form is erected to define the first of the panels, the form including a partition having one face defining the juncture between the two panels. One of the flanges is positioned against this partition member and a retaining means, such as a nail, is utilized to secure the shoulder of the one flange to the partition so that the one flange projects generally normally of the partition, the other flange and the central section being deflected into flatwise contact with the partition. Upon filling of the erected form with concrete, the first flange is invested in the concrete and, when finally set, the flange is securely positioned therein. Upon tearing down of the form and removal of the partition, the other flange and the central section are positioned, so that the other flange lies in the second panel pouring space and the central section bridges the juncture between the two panels. To secure the other flange and the central section in the desired position, the shoulders are secured together with the same means which was utilized for retention of the waterstop during pouring of the first panel.

In this manner, it is possible to avoid the necessity of split molds and also it is possible to avoid the necessity of separate retention wires or clips for securing the waterstop in position during pouring of the panels. At the same time, the waterstop is firmly secured to the partition during pouring of the first panel, and the nail or other securing means positions the non-invested portions of the waterstop by attachment to the already invested flange during pouring of the second panel.

The object of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

On the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an end elevational view of a waterstop employed in the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the waterstop of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 illustrates the waterstop of FIGURES 1 and 2 in an adjusted position during installation and during carrying out the method of the present invention; and

FIGURE 4 is a view similar to FIGURE 3 illustrating the waterstop in its final installed position.

As shown on the drawings:

In FIGURE 1, reference numeral 10 refers generally to a waterstop of the present invention. This waterstop or sealing strip 10 is preferably extruded of elastomeric material as a continuous strip, and may be formed from any suitable elastomeric material, such as rubber, synthetic rubber, polyvinyl chloride, or the like.

structurally, the sealing strip 10 of the present invention comprises a central deformable section or bight portion indicated generally at 11 and transversely projecting side flanges 12 and 13, respectively, formed integrally with the central deformable section 11. Preferably, the central deformable section :or bight portion 11 of the sealing strip 510 is formed of a material which is substantially softer and more flexible than the material constituting the flanges 12 and 13. Generally, the central section 11 and the flanges 12 and 13 are formed of identical materials, such as polyvinyl chloride, with the central section 11 containing greater amounts of plasticizers and/ or lesser amounts of filler or other hardening agents. In any event, the central section 11 is preferably substantially more flexible than the relatively rigid flanges 12 and 13. The reference numerals 17 indicate the lines of demarcation between the harder flanges 12, 13 and the softer central section 11.

The central section 11 is preferably of inverted U-shape when the sealing strip is oriented as illustrated in FIG- URES 1, 2 and 4 of the drawings. This central section thus comprises vertical side legs 14 and 15 joined by an integral upper arcuate joining portion 16.

The flanges 12 and 13 are each provided with longitudinally coextensive ribs or retaining projections 18 projecting to opposite sides of the planes of the flanges 12 and 13 and serving to retain the flanges in their embedded relation in the concrete when finally poured. Additionally, it will be noted that the flange 12 is provided with an enlarged rib 20 having an abutment face 21 lying substantially normal to the plane of the flange 12 and laterally spaced from the central section 11 of the sealing strip.

The inner end of the flange 12 is provided with an attaching shoulder indicated generally at 25 and including an upper portion 26 lying normal to the plane of the flange 12, a second or transverse portion 27 lying substantially parallel to the plane of the flange 12, and an elongated leg 28 lying substantially normal to the portion 27 and joined to the flange through the portions 27 and 26. This leg 28 has a planar surface 29 which is spaced from and parallel to the abutment surface 21 of the elongated flange rib 20 to confine therebetween a retaining means indicated generally at 30.

This retaining means 30 is preferably a nail provided with an enlarged head 31 abutting the surface 21 of the rib 20 and having a shank 32 joining the head 31 to an abutment boss 33 preferably bottomed against the surface 29 of the shoulder 25. The nail 30 is provided with a free end which is sharpened as at 34 and which is joined to the boss 33 by a knurled intermediate section 35.

Preferably, the retention means or nail 30 is secured in assembly with the sealing strip 10 by means of apertures 39 (FIGURE 2) formed in the shoulder 28 to receive the knurled portion 35 therethrough and by the abutment of the enlarged head 31 with the shoulder 21 and of the boss 33 with the abutment surface 29 of the shoulder 25. Formed integrally with the central section 11 and depending therefrom is a second shoulder 36, this shoulder actually being formed to lie normal to the flange-joining lateral extension 37 of the central portion 11. Thus, the shoulder 36 is formed of more flexible material than the shoulder 28 and is of a thickness substantially less than the thickness of the shoulder 28 to thereby enhance the flexibility of the shoulder 36.

In carrying out the method of the present invention, the strip illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 is utilized as best shown in FIGURES 3 and 4 of the drawings. First, a form is erected for the first of the two sequentially poured panels to be bridged by the waterstop. Such a form necessarily will include a partition 40, preferably formed of wood, and illustrated as extending vertically. Of course, the partition 40 may well extend horizontally or diagonally, depending upon the shape of the form and the desired location of the waterstop with respect to the remainder of the panel. It will be noted that the partition 40 defines at one face 41 the line of demarcation between the adjacent panels, and this face extends completely throughout the corresponding dimension of the panel. In other words, no elaborate split forms are required.

After erection of the form, the waterstop is positioned as illustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawings. More specifically, the nail or retention means 30 is utilized to secure the one flange 12 to the partition 40 to project normally thereto. This is accomplished by driving the pointed end 34 of the nail 30 into the partition member 40 so that the abutment 33 secures the shoulder 25 in flat face-to-face abutment with the partition. The flange 12 is thus supported in its horizontal position by means of the abutment or shoulder 20 contacting the enlarged head 31 of the nail. The other flange 13 of the waterstop 10 is deflected to lie against the partition surface 41 of the form wall 40. Such deflection is readily accomplished by the relatively soft central section 11 of the waterstop and also by the ready defiectability of the second shoulder 36.

Of course, it will be readily understood that a plurality of nails 30 are provided as required and that these nails will support the flange 12 in its angular relation to the partition 40 during the pouring of the first concrete panel 45. The concrete of the panel 45 will invest the flange 12 therein and, of course, will also partially invest the flange 13 and the central section 11 of the waterstop. However, the flange and the waterstop will not be completely invested because of their sealed contact with the face 41 of the partition 40, so that the flange 13 may be subsequently readily pulled downward (in a clockwise pivoted movement) from its position of FIGURE 3 to its position of FIGURE 4.

Such movement of the flange 13 can occur only after rem-oval of the form partition 40. Due to the fact that the nail 30 is fully invested within the concrete panel 45, the partition may be readily removed without pulling flange 12 from its invested or embedded position in the panel 45. Thus, after removal of the partition 40, the flange 13 is moved to the position illustrated in FIGURE 4 of the drawings wherein the flange 13 and the flange 12 are in their normal or co-planar positions with the central section 11 of the waterstop bridging the gap intermediate the previously poured panel 45 and the space within which the second panel 46 is to be poured.

The flange 13 is supported in its substantially co-planar position with respect to the flange 12 by means of the previously invested nail 30 merely by forcing the free nail point 34 through the flange or shoulder 36. Thus, the invested shank and abutment portions of the nail 30 serve to retain the nail in position for retention of the previously deflected flange 13. So far as the pouring of the second of the panels 46 is concerned, the waterstop 10 is self supporting and no extraneous support means, such as wire clips or the like, is required to prevent shifting of the waterstop during pouring of the panel 46.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a method of making a waterstop joint between abutting sequentially poured concrete sections the steps of: erecting a first form enclosure including a partition at the joint surface, securing an elastomeric waterstop to the partition in aligned relation solely by a single row of retaining means, orienting the waterstop generally in the form of an angle with one flange projecting away from the partition into the first form enclosure and the other flange extending in one direction adjacent the internal surface of the partition, laterally supporting said projecting one flange intermediate the internal surface of the partition and the distal edge of the projecting one flange solely by use of said single row of retaining means, pouring the first section of concrete within the first form enclosure while generally retaining said flanges in their recited orientations, removing the forms after the concrete has sufliciently set and erecting a second form enclosure with the partition-defined surface of the first concrete section forming part of the second form enclosure, deflecting the other flange so as to project into the second form enclosure, laterally supporting said other flange in its deflected orientation intermediate the partition-defined surface of the first concrete section and the distal edge of the other flange by use of said retaining means, and pouring the second section of concrete within the second form enclosure while generally retaining the other flange in its deflected orientation.

2. In a method of making a waterstop joint between abutting sequentially poured concrete sections, the steps of: providing a one-piece elastomeric elongated waterstop strip having normally oppositely disposed first and second flanges with a relatively more flexible center section interposed therebetween, said waterstop having two depending adjacent tab strips in the vicinity of the central section, erecting a first form enclosure including a partition at the joint surface, securing the elastorneric waterstop to the partition in aligned relation along one tab adjacent the first flange by driving a single row of nails through the one tab strip into the partition, orienting the Waterstop generally in the form of a right angle with the first flange projecting away from the partition into the first form enclosure and the second flange extending in one direction parallel to the internal surface of the partition with one external surface of the second flange in contact with said internal surface of the partition, laterally supporting the projecting first flange intermediate the internal surface of the partition and the distal edge of the projecting first flange solely by use of the nails, pouring the first section of concrete within the first form enclosure while generally retaining said flanges in their recited orientation, removing the forms after the concrete has sufiiciently set and erecting a second form enclosure with the partition-defined surface of the first concrete section forming part of the second form enclosure, rotating the second flange through approximately 90" into essentially co-planar relation with 20 the first flange, securing the elastomeric waterstop in the rotated orientation by engagement between the nails and the other tab strip adjacent the second flange while retaining the one tab strip in its engag'mg relation with the nails, laterally supporting said second flange in its rotated orientation intermediate the partition-defined surface of the first concrete section and the distal edge of the second flange solely by use of the nails, and pouring the second section of concrete Within the second form enclosure while generally retaining the second flange in its rotated orientation.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,961,731 11/ 1960 Buzzell et al 50-346 XR FOREIGN PATENTS 568,764 1/1959 Canada. 784,111 10/ 1957 Great Britain.

ROBERT F. WHITE, Primary Examiner.

ALEXANDER H. BRODMERKEL, Examiner.

I. A. FINLAYSON, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN A METHOD OF MAKING A WATERSTOP JOINT BETWEEN ABUTTING SEQUENTIALLY POURED CONCRETE SECTIONS THE STEPS OF: ERECTING A FIRST FORM ENCLOSURE INCLUDING A PARTITION AT THE JOINT SURFACE, SECURING AN ELASTOMERIC WATERSTOP TO THE PARTITION IN ALIGNED RELATION SOLELY BY A SINGLE ROW OF RETAINING MEANS, ORIENTING THE WATERSTOP GENERALLY IN THE FORM OF AN ANGLE WITH ONE FLANGE PROJECTING AWAY FROM THE PARTITION INTO THE FIRST FORM ENCLOSURE AND THE OTHER FLANGE EXTENDING IN ONE DIRECTION ADJACENT THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF THE PARTITION, LATERALLY SUPPORTING SAID PROJECTING ONE FLANGE INTERMEDIATE THE INTERNAL SURFACE OF THE PARTITION AND THE DISTAL EDGE OF THE PROJECTING ONE FLANGE SOLELY BY USE OF SAID SINGLE ROW OF RETAINING MEANS, POURING THE FIRST SECTION OF CONCRETE WITHIN THE FIRST FORM ENCLOSURE WHILE GENERALLY RETAINING SAID FLANGES IN THEIR RECITED ORIENTATIONS, REMOVING THE FORMS AFTER THE CONCRETE HAS SUFFICIENTLY SET AND ERECTING A SECOND FORM ENCLOSURE WITH THE PARTITION-DEFINED SURFACE OF THE FIRST CONCRETE SECTION FORMING PART OF THE SECOND FORM ENCLOSURE, DEFLECTING THE OTHER FLANGE SO AS TO PROJECT INTO THE SECOND FORM ENCLOSURE, LATERALLY SUPPORTING SAID OTHER FLANGE IN ITS DEFLECTED ORIENTATION INTERMEDIATE THE PARTITION-DEFINED SURFACE OF THE FIRST CONCRETE SECTION AND THE DISTAL EDGE OF THE OTHER FLANGE BY USE OF SAID RETAINING MEANS, AND POURING THE SECOND SECTION OF CONCRETE WITHIN THE SECOND FORM ENCLOSURE WHILE GENERALLY RETAINING THE OTHER FLANGE IN ITS DEFLECTED ORIENTATION. 